Should tricycles replace vans and trucks?

August 15, 2023

Should electric tricycles replace vans and trucks? That’s exactly what a logistics company is doing in Croatia!

Providing delivery services on Croatian islands with their small towns and narrow streets has never been easy. This is why Gebrüder Weiss has started to offer its customers a particularly eco-friendly transport solution this year: the logistics company now uses electric tricycles for deliveries to private homes and companies located on the islands of Rab and Lošinj.

Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a global full-service logistics provider with about 8,400 employees at 180 company-owned locations. In its last fiscal year (2022), it achieved annual sales of
€3 billion.

The tricycles in use on Rab and Lošinj have low noise levels but high-performance electric motors. They are also easy to manoeuvre, which makes them perfect for deliveries in small towns, tourist resorts and national parks.

“It is important to maintain the islands’ authenticity and uniqueness. By using our electric tricycles to provide delivery services we help the island oases retain their charming character. And our customers will receive the goods they ordered online in an eco-friendly manner,” says Barbara Bujačić, country manager Croatia at Gebrüder Weiss. A tricycle can transport consignments with a total weight of up to 500kg and cover 50km per day on one battery charge.

Electric vans in urban areas

In addition to electric tricycles, Gebrüder Weiss Croatia has recently started to use electric vans for deliveries to customers in Zagreb as well. Whether furniture, washing machines, fridges and freezers or sports equipment – Gebrüder Weiss delivers the products wherever the customers need them. An electric van can cover 170km on one battery charge, allowing for up to 35 eco-friendly deliveries per day.

These vehicles are perfect for transport in urban areas, and even reduce the roar of traffic thanks to their low-noise electric motor. Their batteries are charged via the company’s own photovoltaic system recently put into operation at the company’s main location near Zagreb. The solar panels installed on the roof of the logistics facility boast an annual total peak performance of 500kW and contribute to saving about 107 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Gebrüder Weiss implemented these sustainable measures in Croatia to take another step towards achieving the climate neutrality targets by 2030. For several years, the company has invested in alternative drives for heavy-duty transport, developing ecologically compatible solutions for the last mile. For instance, in the Greater Vienna metropolitan area, electric trucks are used for local transport and deliveries to customers in Austria and Hungary. Moreover, one of the first hydrogen trucks worldwide has been in use in Switzerland since 2021. The acquisition of additional hydrogen and electric trucks in Germany is scheduled for 2024.